Israel’s Cabinet Lays Down Guidelines for Eshkol’s Visit with President Johnson

Israel’s insistence on direct peace negotiations with the Arabs, and her refusal to withdraw from occupied Arab territories until a peace treaty is signed, will be conveyed by Prime Minister Eshkol to President Johnson when they meet in Texas January 7 and 8. These were the guidelines laid down for the Prime Minister’s American visit at a Cabinet session here last night, and announced in a communique issued this morning, signed by all Cabinet members.

The communique also expressed hopes for improved relations between Israel and the United States and Canada, Great Britain was not mentioned in the communique because there has been no official announcement of the Prime Minister’s intention to visit there on his way home from the U.S.A. Finance Minister Pinhas Sapir will be acting Prime Minister during Mr. Eshkol’s absence.